21 Bible Verses about Nominal Religion
Most Relevant Verses
You plant them, and they take root. They grow and bear fruit. You are near their lips, but far from their mind.
They seek me day by day. They delight to know my ways like a nation that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask me for justice and delight. They are pleased that God is near.
Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they do not do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits. To them you are nothing more than a singer with a beautiful voice who sings love songs or a musician who plays an instrument. They listen to your words, but they do not do them.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness on the inside. You appear righteous to men. However, inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you. These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'
He told them: Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites. It is written: 'This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain teaching as doctrines the commands of men.'
These people praise me with their words, said Jehovah, but they never draw near to me in their hearts (deepest thoughts). Their reverence for me comes from the repetitious tradition of men.
They profess that they know God; but deny him by their works! They are detestable, disobedient, and not approved for any good work.
Watch out for the false prophets. They are disguised as sheep. But in their hearts they are vicious wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? Every good tree gives righteous fruit. The bad tree gives evil fruit.read more.
A good tree does not give bad fruit. A bad tree does not give good fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. He who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' I will say to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of evil.'
As I urged you to stay at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that you might command certain men not to teach strange doctrines. They should not pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These myths (false stories) (fabrications) and genealogies stimulate questions and speculation. They do not enhance the administration of God that is by faith. But the objective is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith without hypocrisy.read more.
Some have turned aside to vain talk by deviating from these things. They want to be teachers of the Law even though they do not know what they are talking about. They do not understand what they say or what they confidently affirm.
He who says: I know him, and does not obey his commandments is a liar! The truth is not in him.
Samuel said: What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
Jehovah says: What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I have had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves. I am not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. Who requires you to trample on my courtyards when you appear in my presence? Do not bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me! So are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call. I cannot endure your evil assemblies!read more.
I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals. They are a burden to me. I am tired of putting up with them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are full of blood.
I hate, I despise (reject) your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Yes, even if you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them. Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take the noise of your songs away from me! I will not listen to the melody of your harps.read more.
Justice should roll down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
You should learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners.
If you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
I desire loving-kindness (mercy), not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah! The prayer of the upright is his delight.
Whoever kills a bull is like someone who kills a person. Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog's neck. Whoever offers a grain sacrifice is like someone who offers pig's blood. Whoever burns incense is like someone who worships an idol. People have certainly chosen their own ways, and they delight in detestable things. Therefore I will choose harsh treatment for them and bring on them what they fear. I called, but no one answered. I spoke, but they did not listen. They did what I consider evil. They chose what I do not like.
Know this also that in the last days perilous (dangerous) times will come. For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous (lovers of money), arrogant, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful (ungrateful), unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, despisers of those who are good,read more.
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Stay away from people like this!
